Expert Connect Program Director

Expert Connect Program Director And Research & Development Program Manager

University of Kentucky Equal Employment Opportunity / M / F / disability / protected veteran status.

Posting Details

Job Title : Expert Connect Program Director And R&D Partnerships Manager (College of Engineering)

Department Name : 40420 : Office of Technology Commercialization

Work Location : Lexington, KY

Grade Level : 50

Salary Range : $81,640-138,798 / year

Type of Position : Staff

Position Time Status : Full-Time

Required Education : BS

Required Related Experience : 7 yrs

Required License / Registration / Certification : None

Physical Requirements : Sitting for extended periods of time; repetitive motion related to computer work.

Shift : 8 : 00 am - 5 : 00 pm Monday-Friday.

Job Summary : UK Innovate is seeking an Expert Connect Program Director and Research & Development Program Manager supporting the College of Engineering. This position will set vision and long-term strategy for a streamlined process for supporting service agreements across the university. This position will also proactively build new sponsored project and service pipelines for the College of Engineering. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Technology Development and R&D Partnerships, this position will be responsible for :

• Setting vision and strategy for the Expert Connect program for the university. Develop and enforce protocols to facilitate streamlined processes for service agreements and proactively recruiting industry opportunities in coordination with UK Innovate and Technology Commercialization resources.
• Managing R&D Partnerships for the College of Engineering (CoE) by engaging industry, community, and state stakeholders to develop research-driven collaborations and economic development opportunities.
• Proactively increasing visibility of CoE research and development resources and expertise through conferences, partnering events, technology showcases, and outreach activities to channel new project opportunities with corporate partners.
• Supporting scoping and budgeting for industry-faculty projects, ensuring compliance and coordination of NDAs, MTAs, DUAs, and other agreements.
• Collaborating with Technology Commercialization and Legal teams to maintain templatized agreements and identify commercialization opportunities.
• Ensuring Expert Connect project execution and close out, including documentation, payment processing, compliance, and routing of know-how licenses through commercialization pipelines.
• Advancing innovation-based economic development initiatives by promoting CoE research and lab capabilities that align with state priorities, supporting SBIR / STTR partnerships, and engaging with economic development organizations.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities :

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education / Experience :

Deadline to Apply : 12 / 03 / 2025

Our University Community :

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and / or drug screen.

Required Documents :

1. Resume

2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents :

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities